The Owen County EMS recently received a Fire Fighters’ Assistance Grant to better equip staff on daily runs.

The grant, which was received from FEMA, enabled the EMS to purchase two chest compression systems and two monitor/defibrillators from Physio Control, a company that specializes in medical equipment.

According to Owen County EMS Director Kevin Luther, with the FEMA grant of almost $70,000 the court was able to purchase the equipment by only spending $13,434.

Luther said Owenton Fire Chief David Lilly and assistant fire chief Rick Morgan aided him in filling out paperwork to receive the grant.

During a demonstration of the equipment Friday, Bill Welch, a sales representative with Physio Control, said the Owen County EMS is the first to receive the chest compression system in the northern or central Kentucky area.

The chest compression system, called a Lucas 2 Device, carries out 100 compressions per minute.

Welch said by having the chest compression systems, members of EMS will no longer have to hold on to rails in the ambulance and administrate CPR with one hand.

“This is going to free up some additional hands in the back of the unit,” Luther said. “It’s really going to be a big help.”

Welch said sometimes when administrating CPR, a patients’ ribs can be cracked. The chest compression systems will not injure a patient.

The EMS will also receive two LifePac 15 monitor-defibrillators.

Owen County EMS currently has two LifePac 12 monitor-defibrillators which were introduced in 1998.

Welch said the LifePac 15 is 10 times more powerful than the previous machine and also has the capability of temperature monitoring.

Luther said the chest compression systems will be beneficial for all involved.

Welch said the new equipment would arrive in about a month.

Owen County Magistrates Teresa Davis and Bobby Gaines were present at the demonstration.